ICS Daily Devotions
Live as His Children
John 1:12-13 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
It is unfortunate that many Christians view God as more of a judge who is constantly looking to punish us, than a loving Father who is always looking out for us favourably. Such a view stifles spiritual growth and broods resentment, but if we truly understand that we are a child of God, our lifestyles will reflect our intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Rembrandt’s painting “The Return Of The Podigal Son” captures the essence of what it means to be the child of God through his interpretation of the parable. Though the prodigal son has rebelled against the father, who had every reason to disown him, the father was gracious, loving, and merciful in restoring his sonship and his right to be in the household. Likewise, when we have chosen to receive the way back to God through the redemptive blood of Jesus, God has given us the right to be His children, and we need to identify ourselves as children of the living God.
No many Christian books talk about being a child of God or expound on the love of the Heavenly Father, possibly because with roughly 50% of marriages ending in divorce, many lack a proper understanding of the fatherly figure owing to the lack of an earthly example. As a result, many struggle to relate to the Heavenly Father in their prayers, their walk and relationship with Him.
Many start off our Christian lives trying to do things to attain God’s love and acceptance. Aware that we are sinners saved by grace, we pursue to be good Christians by observing the law to ensure that God will continue to love us. Though it may be a good intention done out of a pure heart to try and please God, we risk becoming legalistic or pharisaic if we fail to grasp the concept of Agape love. The reason one uses religious practices, rituals, and disciplines to earn God’s love and acceptance is because they only know of Phileo love, which is a conditional love, and they wrongly believe that this is how God loves them too.
However, we will never be close to God if we think that He operates on Phileo love because we are imperfect and need to deal with our weaknesses and temptations every day. We will subject ourselves to an emotional roller-coaster by feeling that God loves us on the days that we do well and furious with us when we succumb to the work of the flesh. Therefore, we need to understand that God changes not; He loves us the same every day, because We are His children and His love for us is unconditional.
Sermon Series: Sonship
